From Bust to Boom

Like most software companies, Vertex Computer  Systems Inc. was impacted by the technology bust of the late 1990s.

“We saw the opportunity to provide information technology services in the marketplace in 2001,” says Ganesh Iyer, CEO of Vertex Computer Systems Inc. of Twinsburg. “Since then, we have seen double-digit growth for our company every year. By the end of this year, we will see a growth rate of 50 percent to 60 percent.” Iyer expects this growth trend to continue in 2006.

What Vertex saw happening in the marketplace at the turn of the century was many start-up companies, as well as middle-market businesses, were outsourcing IT services.

“What was also happening is that the technology is changing so rapidly that many companies simply cannot keep up the pace of the technological changes,” Iyer says. “So as a technology company, we knew we could help businesses with this challenge and many others.”

Vertex serves a mix of middle-market firms, as well as Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble, Hewlett-Packard, LexisNexus, PNC Bank and Eaton Corp.

Iyer’s wife, Sharda, who serves as the company’s president overseeing the firm’s business strategies, founded Vertex in 1989.

“I think both of us have the entrepreneurial spirit, so I wanted to support her so she could get the enterprise going,” says Iyer. At the time, he was working in the IT division of NCR Corp.

He also has worked for Bell Communications Research and Alltel.

“Companies are looking for IT firms that have quality software development processes,” says Iyer, who became Vertex’s CEO in 2001. Delivering quality is one of the keys that has made Vertex a success. The company’s process and quality management practices help clients get to the root of software-quality problems, lowering the cost of ownership with software that delivers the right functionality, performance and service levels.

What’s more, Vertex is an ISO 9001 company, meaning that all of its software development processes are certified for quality. This adds significant value and works as a major differentiator when the company competes for business. The company also maintains certified partnerships with Microsoft, Siebel, IBM and Macromedia.

Vertex employs 250 people. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Twinsburg, the company operates offices in Cincinnati and India.

“We opened an office in India in 1993 because our customers are globally focused and they need internationally based IT centers to support their technology needs in Europe and Asia,” says Iyer.

The company also recently opened an office in the Washington, D.C., area to expand its work with the federal government. Vertex recently landed a new contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“We are always refining our niche areas where we can capitalize on our strengths and experiences,” says Iyer. “We are pretty excited [about] where we are headed."